Posted 6 years ago on Oct. 5, 2011, 4:43 p.m. EST by swica
(19)
from Waubaushene, ON
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

Maybe this movement isn't about economics.
Finances do affect us all, and Wall Street, Government and Corporations sure make easy targets to criticize. Maybe we need to look at some fundamental issues that we all live with, but don't ever realize. All citizens have basic needs, and some rights to cover those basic needs. What are those rights, who decides what is and what isn't, who supplies and who consumes, and how should it all be distributed? We accept public education but argue over universal healthcare. We accept the right for shelter (housing), but struggle with the mortgage system. We want an old age pension that is guaranteed, but we take issue with the way our savings get treated at Wall Street. We have a small income and spend it at supermarkets on imported goods that only produce low paying jobs for the store clerks, or at fast food chains, knowing that it is not healthy, and we can't afford to insure that health. We let the government pay our teachers, knowing our kids are not getting the best possible education. We borrow money to buy things we can do without. We all share the same environment, but have little respect for it. We talk about job creation. Talking certainly isn't a job. Farmers have difficulty finding reliable "domestic" workers, and government jobs are basically unemployed people with a tax payer funded office. We don't take care of our parents, the government can do that, and we don't seem to realize the social and financial implications of that.
We, the 99% ,want to change 1% ( by the numbers it isn't a fair fight ! ), but we are not even sure how we would like to change ourselves.
It seems to be a good time to face a mirror for a few moments before we head out into the streets, if we find the reason for walking in that mirror.

15 Comments

The Grievances should be sourced and referenced slights that the large majority of Americans and the world have felt and been impacted by negatively.

The Demand(s) should be a simple actionable item that the majority can get behind as a starting point of the implementation of the popular political will. This demand needs to be openly debated and discussed, with all threads of thought being archived. My personal opinion is to begin with some sort of campaign finance reform to promote the possibility of the people regaining political power, although I'd love to hear other opinions.

The Pledge should be self-reflective, inclusive of dissident opinions, critically aware, and empowered by the global movement of human decency for all.

These three aspects can be combined to ensure that this movement is not co-opted by any one group and instead remains a movement of the people.

Only a few videos of folks speaking were clear & concise - the rest has been a mish-mash of inaccurate information. It's been confusing to see the ignorant folks on tv/news - it seems the majority there really do NOT know why they are there ... Kinda sad, when you realize the changes that could come about if put into a positive, coherent direction.

Actually it IS about politics, Jolibear, because in order to implement the kind of changes you want to the SOCIETY, it inevitably has to funnel through the political process. The means to your ends can be accomplished LEGALLY via a National Constitutional Convention. See links below for more info:

The changes must be achieved legally. There will always be politicians (our representatives), no matter how much we change. But we need to know what we have to change, before we can actually bring in change.

This is about changing the entire way a society thinks. Our priorities are all wrong right now. Why are we paying so much to get our nails painted and hair fixed, when our farmers have to be subsidized to keep going, and the smaller ones are dying out? Our teachers are barely payed a living wage. Everything is backwards. How can we even begin to fix THAT problem? It's not about politics, it's about living. It's a point I have been focused on for the past few years.

agreed. if we are not prepared to take more responsibility towards a sustainable and rewarding future for all, we have no right to demand change from anybody. the first step would be a realistic self assessment, then we see the priorities. Address your concerns in your own mind, then in your home, then in your neighborhood, and it can get better.

It's not a question of forcing my opinion on another, it's about asking ourselves, individually, what are basic needs are to survive. Is it food, or jewelery? Healthcare, or pedicures? Education or tropical cruises? Should your hairstylist really be making more money than your farmer, or daycare provider?